Improvement in blacksmiths  tongs



J.l H. ALKER.

f Blaoksmiths Tongs.' x

No. 200,238. Patented Feb'. 12, 1878.

N. PETEBS. FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTCN. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN H. ALKER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JONES AND LAUGHLINS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BILACKSMITHS TONGS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent N0. 200,238, dated February 12, 1878 application filed V January 12, 1878.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN H. ALKER, of Pittsburg, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a new and useful Improvement in Blacksmiths Tongs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact description thereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making a part of this specification, in which-like letters indicating like parts- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved blacksmiths tongs. Fig. 2 is a like view of a partially-completed sucker-rod coupling, showing one form or kind of article which my improved tongs are adapted to manipulate and Fig. 3 is a view, in cross-s ection, of the jaws of the tongs, the same being taken in the line w somewhat enlarged, and showing the jaws clamping upon the article to beheld thereby.

In the handling of sucker-rod couplings and other like articles during the process of manufacture it is sometimes necessary to grasp the strap or concavo-convex parts in a pair of tongs and hold the article firmly and securely. If these concavo-convex parts are brought together their edges are apt to slip past each other, thus not only affording' an insecure hold for the tongs, but also the straps are liable to be bent out of shape, both in individual form and in relation to each other.

Smiths, when using ordinary tongs of two jaws only, have resorted to the expedient of inserting a separate and independent plate between the strap or concavo-convex parts, and then clamping such parts onto the intermediate plate.

My improved tongs are designed to obviate the necessity of handling this separate or independent plate by providing a device, which forms a part of the tongs, for eii'ecting the same result.

Such tongs are represented in Fig. 1, where a and b represent the two outer jaws, having arms or handles a b', of any desired length, by -which the jaws are operated. Between these outer jaws a b is arranged an intermediate jaw, c, and, as shown, all three jaws are pivoted together upon one bolt or pin, e, which is passed through all three and secured in any convenient way, as by riveting or otherwlse.

The particular arrangement at the pivoting- 'point of the jaws may, however, be varied at pleasure-as, for example, the pivoted end of the jaw c may be bifurcated, and one or both these bifurcated arms may be arranged outside of the other arms, at the point of pivoting, leaving, however, the jaw proper between the other two, as shown; but all such modifications I consider as coming within my invention.

If desired, the stem of the jaw c may be carried back along with the other two, to form a handle for independently operating that jaw,

Any desired concave form may be given to the griping-faces of these jaws, adapting them to the form of the article to be handled; and if the number of straps or bars to be clamped are more than two in number, the number of clamping -jaws may be correspondingly increased, and all may be arranged and pivoted or hinged substantially in the manner de scribed, so as to be capable of independent operation.

The particular form and number of jaws shown are such as are adapted to handling what are commonly known as sucker-rod couplings.

One of such couplings, partially completed, is shown in Fig. 2, and in applying the tongs described to such or similar irons, I arrange them before the strap or open ends, with the jaw c between and the jaws a b outside of the concavo-convex straps d. The jaws are then closed down upon the straps, and the outer jaws a b, being concave in form on their faces, will fit to and hold the straps irmly, while the intermediate jaw c, being iiat or plane faced, will prevent the edges of the straps from coming together, and afford a plate or base against which both straps may be pressed without being distorted or bent.

I claim herein as my invention- In a blacksmiths tongs, the outer jaws a b, having interior concave faces, in combination with one or more intermediate jaws, c, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN H. ALKER. Witnesses:

WEsT MGMURRAY, GLAUDIUs L. PARKER. 

